Euryops plant named ‘Straesun’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euryops  plant named ‘Straesun’, characterized by its upright, compact and rounded plant habit; rough-textured and dark green-colored foliage; large inflorescences; and daisy-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets and darker yellow-colored disc florets.

Botanical designation: Euryops anthanasiae.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Straesun’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Euryops plant, botanically known as Euryops anthanasiae and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Straesun’.

The new Euryops is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed selection of Euryops anthanasiae, not patented. The cultivar Straesun was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of the parent selection in Straelen, Germany on Apr. 11, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Euryops by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Straelen, Germany since Apr. 11, 2002, has shown that the unique features of the Euryops are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Euryops has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Straesun’ and distinguish the new Euryops as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, compact and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Rough-textured and dark green-colored foliage.     -   3. Large inflorescences.     -   4. Daisy-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray         florets and darker yellow-colored disc florets.

Plants of the new Euryops differ from plants of the parent selection primarily in inflorescence size as plants of the parent selection have smaller inflorescences than plants of the new Euryops.

Plants of the new Euryops can be compared to plants of the Euryops cultivar Sonnenschein, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Euryops differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Sonnenschein in inflorescence size as plants of the cultivar Sonnenschein had smaller inflorescences than plants of the new Euryops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Euryops.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Straesun’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and averaged measurements describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany, in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 20 to 55 kilolux. Plants were grown in 10-cm containers and were pinched one time about eight to ten days after planting. Plants had been growing for about four months when the photograph and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euryops anthanasiae cultivar Straesun. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     selection of Euryops anthanasiae, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 14 days at 25°             C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 to 16 days at 25°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About three to             four weeks at 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About four weeks             at 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light creamy white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Inverted triangle; upright, compact and             rounded plant form with inflorescences held above and beyond             the foliage; moderately vigorous.         -   Plant height (soil level to top of foliar plane).—About 30             cm to 35 cm.         -   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescence             plane).—About 35 cm to 50 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 cm to 30 cm.         -   Lateral branch (peduncle) description.—Length: About 5 cm to             10 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to             2 cm. Aspect: Upwardly curving. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: 142B overlain with 59B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;             sessile. Length: About 5 cm to 8 cm. Width: About 2 cm to             3 cm. Shape: Palmately lobed. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Lobed. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:             Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 138A;             venation, 138A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 138B; venation, 138A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescences with ligulate ray             florets. Disc and ray florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum. Solitary inflorescences held upright and             outwardly on axillary peduncles. Inflorescences positioned             mostly perpendicular to the peduncles. Inflorescences not             persistent.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             from April to September in Germany; flowering continuous             during this period.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about one week             on the plant.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering, about two to             three open inflorescences per lateral branch.         -   Fragrance.—Moderate.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (height):             About 1 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 144C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 16 to 18             arranged in a single whorl. Shape: Ligulate to lanceolate.             Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Initially upright; with             development, eventually close to perpendicular to the             peduncle. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: 12A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             12A.         -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity per inflorescence: Numerous,             about 100. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apex, five-pointed;             base, fused. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Color: Immature: 14A. Mature: 16A.         -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries).—Quantity per inflorescence:             About twelve. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:             Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Elongated. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Only on disc florets.             Stamen quantity per floret: Five. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Pollen color: 11A. Filament: Less than             1 mm in length: white in color. Gynoecium: Present on ray             and disc florets. Pistil quantity per floret: One. Pistil             length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color:             Close to 9A. Style color: Close to 6A. Seed/fruit: Seed and             fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Euryops has not been observed on plants grown under commercial     conditions. -   Temperature/weather tolerance: Plants of the new Euryops have been     observed to be tolerant to rain, wind and to temperatures from about     5° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euryops plant named ‘Straesun’, as illustrated and described. 